It doesn't hurt to try to speak it, but for some it is hard. But i don't understand why it's so hard, but thats because i speak and understand both Lao and Thai. I really wouldn't understand their reason. My mom new hubby, he's Lao, but when they watch lakorn Thai, she would have to translate some parts to him, he just don't understand the meaning of some of the words.
Example: the lakorn Rachanee Morlam, he asked what "rachanee" meant, and she had to tell him in laos it means like "chow cheewit"